Shoestring-fastener.



PV/TNESSES:

T. HIGGINS.

SHOESTRING FASTENER. APPLICATION mum JAN. 23. 1906.

nil Z1 A TYORNZZ Y5 PATEN'I'ED MAY 8, 1906.

THOMAS HIGGINS, OF .IOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOESTRlNG-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented May 8, 1 906.

Application filed January 28,1906. Serial No. 297,476.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnoMAs HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ohnstown, in the county of Cambria and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and use ful Shoestring-Fastener, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments to shoes for fastening the stringsin position after the completion of the lacing, and has for its objectto improve the construction and increase the efficiency of devices ofthis char acter.

With these and other obj ects in view, which will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the inventioncapable of carrying the same into practical operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of portions of the flaps andstring-hooks and strings with the improved device applied. Fig. 2 is aperspective view, enlarged, of the improved device detached and open.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same when closed, showing theshoestring in section.

The improved device comprises a base member 10, preferably circular, andhaving means for fastening to one of the side flaps 11 of a shoe andprovided with spaced ribs 12 13, having transverse depressions 14 15.Hinged at 16 to the base member is a body 17, having an intermediate rib18, adapted to be seated between the spaced ribs 12 13 when the bodymember 17 is closed, as in Figs. 1 and 3, the rib 18 having a.transversedepression 19, as shown. The body 17 is provided with a resilient catch20, adapted to engage a recess 21 in the base member 10, and thus lockthe members together.

The shoestrings (represented at 22) are laced over the hooks 23 24 ofthe usual form and attached to the flaps 11 25 and disposed across theribs 12 and 13 and within the recesses 14 and the member 17 closed downover them to cause the rib 18 to depress the crossed strings between thespaced ribs 12 13, and thus firmly grip them in place and lock the partstogether by snapping the catch into the recess 21. The strings willprefer ably be looped when placed across the ribs 12 13 to cause them toassume a bow-like appearance when the fastening is closed, as shown inFig. 1.

By this simple means the labor of fastening the strings is materiallylessened and the annoyance arising the accidental unlacing or untying ofthe strings avoided. I

The device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured,and applied to all styles and sizes of shoes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Ashoestring-fastener comprising a base member having spaced ribs providedwith transverse depressions, a body lnovably connected to said basemember and provided with an intermediate rib seating between said spacedribs, and yieldable fastening means adapted to fasten said base memberand movable member.

2. A shoestring-fastener comprising a base member having spaced ribsprovided with transverse depressions, a body hinged at one side to saidbase member and provided with an intermediate rib seating between saidspaced ribs, and a resilient catch upon said hinged body and adapted toyieldably engage a depression in said base member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS HIGGINS.

Witnesses JOHN SCHIFFIIAUER, JNO. S. TITTLE.

